Mudslide exposes human remains in Cazenovia cemetery

Mike Greenlar / P-SSt. James Cemetery on Lincklan Rd. just outside the village of Cazenovia.

Human remains have surfaced after the collapse of a bank at St. James Cemetery on Lincklaen Road in the town of Cazenovia.

Madison County District Attorney Donald Cerio said melting snow and rain eroded a large portion of a bank, causing it to collapse late Wednesday afternoon.

Cerio said the bones that were exposed came from graves that were dug in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They are from bodies that were probably buried in cypress boxes that have since decomposed, he said.

Cerio said investigators are working with church representatives and members of the Onondaga County medical examiner's office to determine how many graves were disrupted.

"Containment and recovery are the focus now," he said. "Once we get that done, we have to make a decision about how to re-inter the remains."

Cerio said a number of grave stones were washed away as well in the collapse.

The mudslide came close to Lincklaen Road. Officials have closed the road north of the village of Cazenovia as a precaution.